Distant Love

Five months before heading off on my year-long journey abroad I played a silly April fool's joke on a stranger. A joke turned into an instant undeniable connection. We were in Austin, he lived in Houston, I lived in Boston, and I was only moving even further away. Nonetheless, our only option was to give it a shot.Being in a long-distance relationship is no one's ideal situation, and it is a commitment. We acknowledged it was going to be hard, but rough storms would only prove the strength of our anchor. Like any relationship we have struggled, grown, learned, and loved in ways that continue to take our connection to new levels. It's been challenging in a way that is exhilarating. It makes you feel, and appreciate every single thing for what it really is. After 365 days of long distance, ~42,000 miles of travel across 3 continents, visits in 9 cities together, and hundreds of hours of FaceTime, I wouldn't trade it in for anything different, and here is why.Staying committed to my...